Blind-slat-holding device



(No Model.)

. N. P. TAYLOR.

BLIND SLAT HOLDING DEVICE.

No. 535,871. Patented Mar. 19, 1895.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN P. TAYLOR, OF HENDERSON, KENTUCKY.

BLlND-SLAT-HOLDING DEVICE."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,871, dated March19, 1895. Application filed September 20, 1894. Serial No. 523,662. (Nomodel.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHAN POWELL TAY- LOR, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at the city of Henderson, county ofHenderson, State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Device forAdjusting and Maintaining in Any Desired Position Movable Blind-slats,of which the following is a specification.

At present, blind slats are provided at. each end with a small roundtenon, which fits rather loosely into a corresponding mortise in theframe of the blind. Each slat ina section is connected at one edge,midway its length, with a smallwooden rod,by the manipulation of which,each slat in that section may be simultaneously revolved upon itslongitudinal axis, for the purpose of regulating the admission of lightand air. After a few weeks use these tenons work so loosely and easilyin their mortises, that it becomes impossible to maintain them in anydesired position, since they revolve back and forth by their own weight,or upon the slightest disturbing cause, giving rise to muchinconvenience and annoyance and rendering the blind almost useless forthe purpose intended.

The object of my invention is to provide a small spring-steel strip,hereinafter described, for attachment to the end of any one slat in r asection, the flared end of which being in- 'serted into thecorresponding mortise, induces sufficient friction to control themovements of all the slats in that section.

My device will not hinder the slats in a section, from being easily, andfreely revolved, as at present, by means of the center rod, while itsspring-end will furnish, by its friction against the sides of thecontaining mortise, sufficient resistance to maintain these slatsexactly in whatever position they are left, and will add greatly to thecomfort and usefulness of the blind, at a nominal cost.

This simple device may be incorporated in the structure of the blindduring its manufacture, or may be easily inserted at any time while theblind is in use, as hereinafter described.

There may be used in connection with this device, a thin, inexpensivemetal casing for the mortise in the frame of the blind, to preventunnecessary wear upon the mortise.

This is only practicable to be done during the manufacture of theblinds.

The object of my invention I accomplish in the manner, and by the means,hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a detail plan view of theblank from which the small steel spring for my automatic blind-slatadjuster is formed. Fig. 2, is a plan view of a blank for a differentlyformed spring. The spring shown in Fig. 1 is to be used where the springis incorporated during the process of manufacture. Fig. 2, shows asimpler form better adapted for application to blinds in use. Fig. 3,shows Fig. 1 completed. Fig. 4, is a skeleton view showing angle atwhich both forms of spring are intended to be bent. Fig. 5, is aperspective view of one end of a blind slat, S, showing my springadjuster applied thereto. Fig. 6, shows a plan of the cylindrical metalcasing suggested as a protection to mortise in the blind frame. Thecul-de-sac, M, is inserted into the mortise and secured to the edges ofthe frame on each side by means of the perforated flaps -ff. Into thiscasing the flared ends of my spring are inserted.

In order to enable those skilled. in the art or manufacture to which myinvention pertains, to make and use my device, I shall describe the samein detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figs. 1 and 2 show the blanks for the two varieties of spring, which maybe cut or stamped from a suitable piece of very thin spring steel. Theangular neck A, is perforated for attachment to the end of the slat S,as shown in Fig. 5. The wide end B, is given a semi-cylindrical form byhaving its edges 0. 0., bent downward as in Fig. 3. Both Figs. 1 and2are bent at E at an angle shownin Fig. 4.. The spring shown in Fig. 2 isonly to be used for easy application to blindsin use. Fig. 1, isintended for use in the manufacture of the blind, and is the much morepreferable form.

The spring shown in Fig. 3 is attached, one on each side of one end ofany one slat in a section, as shown in Fig. 5. The flaredsemicylindrical ends being pressed together and inserted in the propermortise in the frame, together, form a complete cylindrical casingaround the tenon T, insuring perfect rotation, while their outwardtendency produces su'fli oient friction to control the movements of allthe slats in that section, through the connecting center rod.

The spring shown in Fig. 2, is very simple, and is intended forapplication to blinds in use, This is done by inserting the narrow neckB into the mortise alongside the tenon, (one on each side is preferable)and pressing the perforated end A, firmly down against the side of theslat, and securing it by means of suitable small screws or nails.

Heretofore sheet metal tenons have been provided, but my invention hasno reference to tenons, either in its construction or, purpose, and suchI do not claim.

Having described my invention, ,what I do claim, and ask to have securedby Letters- Ba'tent, isT

As a new article of manufacture, an automatic blind slat adjuster,consisting of a small steel spring, with a perforated neck A, forattachment to the end of the slat, and a portion B for insertion in themortise, for ready attaohment to blinds in use, the latter portion beingbent at an angle to the attaching part, and formed of a single piece ofspring steel, substantially as set forth and described.

N. P. TAYLOR.

Witnesses: I

F. O. TAYLOR, T. W. BUCKNER.

